The richest woman committed a crime with her child - Chapter 28
But now, sitting like this again… she couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward and extremely shy.
“Where are we going?” she asked, covering her face with her hands, trying to cool the heat in her cheeks.
“To the northern outskirts.”
………………
Back at the tavern on the second floor, Chen Jingjing walked unsteadily. Her broken leg hadn’t fully healed, and her steps were slow and uneven. Even a short distance was a struggle for her, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
She leaned against the wall with one hand and knocked on the door with the other, calling out softly, “Xu Mei, open the door. Who was the person who took you away?”
There was no response.
She pushed the door open abruptly.
The room was empty.
Qiu Chigong walked up behind her. Being much taller, he peered over her head into the room. Seeing no one inside, he looked down at Chen Jingjing and asked, “Who are you looking for?”
Instead of answering, Chen Jingjing asked, “Has Shen Youting been here?”
Qiu Chigong gritted his teeth. “Why would he come here?” The battles he’d had with Shen Youting yesterday and today had left him fuming! If he got the chance, he’d definitely fight him again.
Chen Jingjing ignored his anger and pressed, “So he hasn’t come?”
“If he dared to show up, I’d slash him with a knife first, then set the dogs on him.”
Chen Jingjing’s delicate face was filled with confusion. Xu Mei, though often outspoken and unrestrained in her words, was surprisingly devoted when it came to men. She had always been infatuated with Shen Youting, chasing after him with uncharacteristic humility, while maintaining a haughty attitude toward other men. It was almost impossible for her to be taken away by a stranger without making a fuss.
Chen Jingjing wanted to go downstairs to see if the person who had taken Xu Mei away was indeed Shen Youting, but even climbing the stairs had been a struggle for her. Going down would be even harder.
“This area is closed now. Go downstairs,” Qiu Chigong said, his face returning to its usual stoic expression.
Only then did Chen Jingjing take a closer look at Qiu Chigong. “Are you Qiu Chigong?” In her fragmented memories of her past life, the name that matched the face before her was Qiu Chigong.
“Yes, it’s me.”
“I know where the person who saved your life is.”
Qiu Chigong’s eyebrows twitched, and a rare look of excitement appeared on his face. He grabbed Chen Jingjing’s shoulders with both hands. “Where is he?”
Chen Jingjing pushed him away with both hands, visibly annoyed. “Help me downstairs now, and in three days, I’ll tell you where he is.”
Qiu Chigong didn’t move, his anger flaring. “Are you just lying to me so I’ll help you down?”
“Ridiculous! I brought three servants with me. One call, and they’ll come to get me.” She turned and grabbed the railing, pretending to call for her servants. Before she could make a sound, Qiu Chigong’s hand pressed down on her right shoulder.
“I’ll take you down,” Qiu Chigong said, his face expressionless. “In three days, where should I find you?”
Chen Jingjing’s voice was cool and distant. “I’ll let you know then.”
Qiu Chigong escorted her all the way out of the tavern. The servants waiting outside helped her into the carriage.
Chen Jingjing lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at him before instructing the servants to drive back to the Xu residence.
At the Xu residence, the bright red lanterns hanging on either side of the gate shone brightly in the night.
“Miss, you’re trying dishes at a friend’s place tonight, so you’ll be back late. Don’t sleep too soundly,” the steward, Liu, said as he adjusted a food box and directed the servants to leave the gate open for her. Hearing the sound of a carriage, he instinctively turned toward the noise and saw the Xu family carriage approaching. He hurried over to greet it.
The carriage stopped, and Chen Jingjing lifted the curtain.
“Miss, you’re back,” Steward Liu said softly, knowing Chen Jingjing disliked loud voices.
Chen Jingjing nodded and asked in her usual detached tone, “Is Youting at home?”
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